Re: Xplorers to Griffith

David Bromage (dbromage@metz.une.edu.au)
15 Feb 1998 22:43:43 GMT

Greg Rudd (grudd@mail.usyd.edu.au) wrote:
>You seem to forget Countrylink's experiment in running busses to Canbera
>before the introduction of the Xplorers. This was a utter disaster with
>most of the busses running empty. As well as in the north west when the
>XPT used to terminate at Tamworth ridership on that route was less than
>what it is today due to the fact that you can catch a train directly to
>either Armidale or Moree not having to change to a bus.

I can attest to that. It's quite often over half full ex-Armidale, and
almost full ex-Tamworth. You'd need 7 buses to carry that many people.

Some people up here wouldn't mind seeing the XPT back, especially at
Easter. A 2+5 XPT (built up to 2+6, XP-XL-XBR-XF-XF-XF-XFH-XP, for Easter
and other peak times) could certainly bee justified on the Armidale run,
if a connecting service to Moree was provided at Werris Creek.

Does anybody know how average loadings on NT25/NT26 have been and if a
4-car Xplorer would be inadequate?

Cheers
David

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Bromage dbromage@metz.une.edu.au
Division of Chemistry http://metz.une.edu.au/~dbromage
School of Physical Sciences and Engineering
University of New England
Armidale, NSW 2351
Australia